The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1887-04-19
AMERICAS DRINK BILL.
Figures That Will Create a Great Uproar
When They Fave Been Fully Studied.

Figures That viii Create a Great Uproar
When They Fave Been Fully Studied.
Chicago Herald
Nearly everybody is familiar with the dia-
grams which assume to show by dark lines the
comparative cost of rum, bread clothing, boots
and shoes. hats and caps, education, religion and
charity Rum always leads the procession with
a black line which runs clear across the chart as
straight and conspicuous as railroad right OF
way on the map. which its own managers pub
lish for free distribution. Then follow gener-
ally in the order named, with constantly Snort
ening lines. the objects above mentioned until,
when religion and charity are reached, 1T will be
observed that they are almost too short to bere-
garded as anything more than spots. The com
parison is truly shocking one, and no end of
stirring arguments and moving appeals have
been based upon it. 1t will disturb some peo-
BILE to be informed that there is the best author
ity for saying that this chart should not exactly
be reversed, but that. if truth is to be the AIM
there must be an emphatic transposirion OF the
lines.
A pamphlet just issued by the Chief Of the
Bureau of Statistics contains much interesting
information on the drink problem, from which
it appears that while the amount of money spent
for liquor is large IL the aggregate, the American
people spend for the necessaries of life from $l2
to SIT for every dollar that is spent for beer,
wines or spirits. The total drink bill per annum
is computed at $780, 600. 600, more than one half
of which is set down as profit to the retailer.
The drinking population is placed at 10, OOO 600,
and the average expense per capita is, Therefore,
about $45. In round numbers, the consumption
OF distilled spirits of all sorts has increased
from 49, 0000 600 gallons In 1910 to Y 600 600 gal
Ions in 1856; of wines from $4,000 gallons to
% 0O0, 600, and of malt liquors from %, O0O,Q 600
gallons to 642, 900. 600. Az touching the con-
sumption per capita it may be said that during
the period mentioned there has been decrease
in the matter of spirits from about two and q
half gallons to about one and quarter gallon;
an increase in wines from about ore
quarter to about one-third of gallon, and
an increase in malt liquors of from less than one
and half to more than eleven gallons. The
conclusion is therefore irresistible that the
mider drinks are gradually taking the place OF
the stronger ones, and this is still further sub
Stimulated by the fact that the consumption OF
coffee per capita mas largely increased during
the last fifty years. 1t is estimated that only IL
per cent Of the distilled liquor consumed IN this
country is used for manufacturing and medicinal
purposes.
Probably no production of the Bureau OF Sta
tistics has created the uproar which THIS
pamphlet will canse as soon as it shall have been
thoroughly digested by the various connlctlng
interests to which 1t appeals Inc temperance
people, long accustomed to their charts, Will 0e-
nounce it as false and, clinging still to the COM
Portable reflection that drink costs more than
bread and raiment they will not fail to scout all
the assumptions that the document makes. On
the other hand, it will also excite the wrath OF
all the retailers of beer and liquor, who will deny
that they make any such profit as is here set
forth. while the brewing. distilling and
wholesalirg sections of the LIQUOR
interest will refuse to accept the official figures
because in these statistics the per capita con-
sumption OF beer wines and liquors in the United
States is set down as almost as much as it is in
any European country. On the point that the
United States disgustingly abstemious, as
compared with the Older countries of the other
hemisphere, the manufacturing element insists
with as much vigor as the temperance workers
do on the point that the people here go hungry
and naked to buy stmulanrs Here are the two
extremes, and it will be possible for neither OF
them to find any satisfaction in the hgurss
which Chief Switzler has undertaken to pre-
sent.
Attacked as the figures will be, they will,
nevertheless, be of service in the consideration
of questions growing out OF the liquor problem
Passion and interest have had their turn at the
wheel-the one overstating the situation and the
| other undertaking it. The bureau puts forward
certain figures and calculations in the interest of
truth, and while making no claim to infallibilty,
| it rests its conclusions grounds which mere
! defamation cannot shake.